[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 74 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2263-H2266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IMPROVING TREATMENT FOR PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN ACT OF 2016
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3691) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize
the residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women
and to establish a pilot program to provide grants to State substance
abuse agencies to promote innovative service delivery models for such
women, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3691
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Treatment for
Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR
PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN.
Section 508 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
290bb-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (p), in the first sentence, by inserting
``(other than subsection (r))'' after ``section''; and
(2) in subsection (r), by striking ``such sums'' and all
that follows through ``2003'' and inserting ``$16,900,000 for
each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021''.
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM GRANTS FOR STATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AGENCIES.
(a) In General.--Section 508 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-1) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (r), as amended by section
2, as subsection (s); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (q) the following new
subsection:
``(r) Pilot Program for State Substance Abuse Agencies.--
``(1) In general.--From amounts made available under
subsection (s), the Director of the Center for Substance
Abuse Treatment shall carry out a pilot program under which
competitive grants are made by the Director to State
substance abuse agencies to--
``(A) enhance flexibility in the use of funds designed to
support family-based services for pregnant and postpartum
women with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder,
including opioid use disorders;
``(B) help State substance abuse agencies address
identified gaps in services furnished to such women along the
continuum of care, including services provided to women in
nonresidential based settings; and
``(C) promote a coordinated, effective, and efficient State
system managed by State substance abuse agencies by
encouraging new approaches and models of service delivery.
``(2) Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program
under this subsection, the Director shall--
``(A) require State substance abuse agencies to submit to
the Director applications, in such form and manner and
containing such information as specified by the Director, to
be eligible to receive a grant under the program;
``(B) identify, based on such submitted applications, State
substance abuse agencies that are eligible for such grants;
[[Page H2264]]
``(C) require services proposed to be furnished through
such a grant to support family-based treatment and other
services for pregnant and postpartum women with a primary
diagnosis of a substance use disorder, including opioid use
disorders;
``(D) not require that services furnished through such a
grant be provided solely to women that reside in facilities;
``(E) not require that grant recipients under the program
make available through use of the grant all services
described in subsection (d); and
``(F) consider not applying requirements described in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (f) to applicants,
depending on the circumstances of the applicant.
``(3) Required services.--
``(A) In general.--The Director shall specify a minimum set
of services required to be made available to eligible women
through a grant awarded under the pilot program under this
subsection. Such minimum set--
``(i) shall include requirements described in subsection
(c) and be based on the recommendations submitted under
subparagraph (B); and
``(ii) may be selected from among the services described in
subsection (d) and include other services as appropriate.
``(B) Stakeholder input.--The Director shall convene and
solicit recommendations from stakeholders, including State
substance abuse agencies, health care providers, persons in
recovery from substance abuse, and other appropriate
individuals, for the minimum set of services described in
subparagraph (A).
``(4) Duration.--The pilot program under this subsection
shall not exceed 5 years.
``(5) Evaluation and report to congress.--The Director of
the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality shall
fund an evaluation of the pilot program at the conclusion of
the first grant cycle funded by the pilot program. The
Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and
Quality, in coordination with the Director of the Center for
Substance Abuse Treatment shall submit to the relevant
committees of jurisdiction of the House of Representatives
and the Senate a report on such evaluation. The report shall
include at a minimum outcomes information from the pilot
program, including any resulting reductions in the use of
alcohol and other drugs; engagement in treatment services;
retention in the appropriate level and duration of services;
increased access to the use of medications approved by the
Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of substance
use disorders in combination with counseling; and other
appropriate measures.
``(6) State substance abuse agencies defined.--For purposes
of this subsection, the term `State substance abuse agency'
means, with respect to a State, the agency in such State that
manages the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block
Grant under part B of title XIX.''.
(b) Funding.--Subsection (s) of section 508 of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-1), as amended by section
2 and redesignated by subsection (a), is further amended by
adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Of the
amounts made available for a year pursuant to the previous
sentence to carry out this section, not more than 25 percent
of such amounts shall be made available for such year to
carry out subsection (r), other than paragraph (5) of such
subsection. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no funds
shall be made available to carry out subsection (r) for a
fiscal year unless the amount made available to carry out
this section for such fiscal year is more than the amount
made available to carry out this section for fiscal year
2016.''.
SEC. 4. CUT-GO COMPLIANCE.
Subsection (f) of section 319D of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-4) is amended by striking ``through
2018'' and inserting ``through 2016, $133,300,000 for fiscal
year 2017, and $138,300,000 for fiscal year 2018''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3691, the Improving Treatment
for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act of 2015, introduced by my
colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Ben Ray Lujan of
New Mexico, Mr. Tonko of New York, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Matsui
of California, and Mr. Cardenas of California.
In most instances, withdrawal or detoxification is not clinically
appropriate for pregnant women with opioid use disorders. The
withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinuing opioid use in
pregnant women can lead to miscarriage or other negative birth
outcomes. Buprenorphine and methadone can be used to treat a woman's
opioid use disorder while pregnant. Such treatment can result in
improved outcomes for both mothers and babies.
Unfortunately, babies exposed to opioids in utero may be born with
neonatal abstinence syndrome, NAS, which refers to medical issues
associated with opioid withdrawal in newborns. Mothers suffering from
opioid use disorder may be sent home with babies who have NAS with very
little guidance or support, which can have negative consequences for
their babies.
NAS can result from the use of prescription opioids as prescribed for
medical reasons, abuse of prescription opioid medication, or the use of
illegal opioids like heroin.
The grant program reauthorized in H.R. 3691 helps support residential
treatment facilities where women and their children receive support,
education, treatment, and counseling that they need to address opioid
addiction and NAS. The newly created pilot program will allow States
more flexibility in providing these services for women and children in
need.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise and voice my support for H.R. 3691, the Improving
Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act. The Pregnant and
Postpartum Women--PPW--program is administered by the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration--SAMHSA--Center for Substance
Abuse Treatment.
The program was designed to expand the availability of comprehensive
residential substance abuse treatment, prevention, and recovery support
services for pregnant and postpartum women and their children. The
program provides grants to public and nonprofit private entities to
provide substance use disorder treatment to women in residential
facilities.
For too long our laws have taken a punitive approach with pregnant
women and new mothers suffering from addiction. Criminal approaches
have failed to work. Solutions should emphasize a nonpunitive, public
health approach like the PPW program.
Substance abuse treatment that supports the family as a unit has
proven effective for maintaining sobriety and enhancing child well-
being. Given the magnitude of this epidemic, there is a need for
increased availability of treatment options that are responsive to
women's complex responsibilities.
H.R. 3691 reauthorizes residential treatment programs for pregnant
and postpartum women. This vital program provides for substance use
treatment for women in need as well as their minor children. Family-
based treatment services include individual and family counseling,
prenatal and postpartum care, and training on parenting.
The bill will also create a pilot program to allow up to 25 percent
of the grants to be made for outpatient treatment services. This will
give State substance abuse agencies greater flexibility to provide
access to treatment and address gaps in delivery of care for pregnant
and postpartum women, including services in nonresidential settings,
and encourage new approaches of services available to pregnant women
along the continuum of care.
I want to thank the bill's sponsor, Representative Ben Ray Lujan, who
is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Health
Subcommittee, for his leadership in introducing this bill.
I urge my colleagues to support the Improving Treatment for Pregnant
and Postpartum Women Act.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Carter).
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3691 so that pregnant
and postpartum women can receive comprehensive, residential substance
abuse treatment when fighting opioid drug addiction.
According to the National Perinatal Association, 4 percent of all
live births in the U.S. occur in women who abuse illicit or
prescription drugs, such as
[[Page H2265]]
opioid pain relievers. This would equate to 159,436 births in 2014 from
women who abuse illicit or prescription drugs.
This is simply unacceptable. We must take action to ensure that
pregnant and postpartum women receive the care they need to protect
American families.
H.R. 3691 simply states that support should be extended for
residential substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant and
postpartum women through 2020 and the Center for Substance Abuse
Treatment should carry out a pilot program to make grants to State
substance abuse agencies to support services for pregnant and
postpartum women who have a substance abuse disorder.
By extending these services and working through this pilot program,
we can ensure that pregnant and postpartum women can receive the care
that they need so that they can care for their families. That is why I
am supporting H.R. 3691.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bill so we can extend care
to all mothers and soon-to-be mothers who fight drug addiction.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Ben Ray Lujan), the cosponsor of the
bill.
Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would like to start
by thanking the chairman and ranking member of the Energy and Commerce
Committee and the Subcommittee on Health for their bipartisan efforts
to address the Nation's drug crisis and for advancing my legislation,
the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act.
Our Nation continues to face a substance abuse crisis that is tearing
apart communities and families. In New Mexico, we have seen a crisis
that is multi-generational, with people growing up in communities where
abuse is commonplace.
The grant program for residential treatment that my bill enhances is
an important part of our effort to break the cycle of drug abuse that
grips our communities. My bill would also increase funding for the
Pregnant and Postpartum Women grant.
As originally written, my bill contained an authorization of $40
million, significantly above the current level, to avoid any cuts to
existing residential programs. Through bipartisan cooperation, we
arrived at a small increase over the next 5 years.
By focusing on women with young children and soon-to-be mothers, we
help ensure that these families get on the right path from the very
beginning. People want to be better. But, unfortunately, too often
there are too few resources and avenues for help.
Certainly this is true in New Mexico, which is among the States most
impacted by the epidemic plaguing our country. Too many people are
suffering, and too many people are being shut out from access to help.
This bill helps address this by creating a demonstration project in
the existing Pregnant and Postpartum Women grant program to allow
grants to be used for nonresidential care.
Residential programs are critically important where they are
available. In my home State of New Mexico, there are far too few
residential programs to serve the needs of my constituents. In
addition, many of the existing facilities have wait lists. With New
Mexico's vastness, residential facilities are out of reach for too
many.
That is why this demonstration project is critical. It will allow us,
while continuing to support residential treatment programs, to explore
how to ensure the services and care we are providing work for those in
need.
While I am pleased that we have been able to work together across the
aisle in an effort to authorize increased funding and ensure the
inclusion of the demonstration project, I think it is important to say
more must be done.
Supporting residential facilities and innovation to make treatment
more available is essential, and both will require significant
investments.
Mr. Speaker, in 2014, 47,055 people died from drug overdoses. That is
129 people per day. We must do more.
I hope that, as we continue this conversation beyond today, we can
all come to recognize the need for funding above and beyond what we are
doing today.
I respectfully ask for support of this bill.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), my colleague and neighbor
from Houston.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the gentleman from
Texas for his leadership and the gentleman from New Mexico for his
outstanding leadership on this important legislation and his concern
and passion.
Let me thank my friends who are managing the legislation and let the
American people know and our colleagues know that we are continuing our
commitment on dealing with the issues of addiction, in this instance,
opioid. And, of course, we know that there are other forms of
addiction, from alcohol, to crack, to cocaine, but we are moving
forward.
I rise to support H.R. 3691, the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and
Postpartum Women Act of 2015. It is clear that this is an issue that
has plagued both the woman and as well the newborn baby.
Let me offer to say that President Obama has updated that guideline
to encourage doctors to be more cautious when prescribing opioid
painkillers and to emphasize nonopioid therapies for certain
conditions. Many times women who are pregnant are under treatment.
Additionally, the Obama administration has awarded $94 million to
community health centers to improve and expand the delivery of
substance abuse services. In the President's FY 2017 budget, the
administration proposed $1.1 billion to combat drug addition
considering modifying certain rules to improve treatment.
As misuse of opioids have increased over the past decade, so has the
incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome, referring to the medical
effects on newborn infants suffering from drug withdrawal because their
mothers were drug addicts.
The GAO report found that a lack of available treatment programs for
pregnant women and newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome,
including the availability of comprehensive care and enabling services,
such as transportation and child care, has hampered Federal efforts to
address the issue.
{time} 1730
I am glad that this bill, which is why I rise to support it,
reauthorizes residential treatment grant programs for pregnant and
postpartum women who have substance abuse problems--programs that are
administered by the Health and Human Service Department's Center for
Substance Abuse Treatment, increasing the authorized funding level by 6
percent. This gives me an opportunity to say that, with regard to all
of these bills, I know that we will all join together to make sure the
right funding is available for these bills to really work.
I join in support of this legislation and add to it legislation that
I have introduced, Improving Safe Care for the Prevention of Infant
Abuse and Neglect Act, and, which I introduced recently, the Stop
Infant Mortality and Recidivism Reduction Act of 2016, which will help
the Federal Bureau of Prisons to improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of the Federal prison system for pregnant offenders by
establishing a pilot program of critical stage development nurseries in
Federal prisons for children born to inmates. Likewise, at that time,
one may discover the concerns that are being expressed here today.
However, the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Act of 2016, also establishes a pilot program to provide grants to
State substance abuse agencies to promote innovative service delivery
models for pregnant women who have a substance use disorder, such as
opioid addiction, including for family-based services in nonresidential
settings.
This is a good bill because it is more than the adult who is being
treated here. It is a good bill because we are concerned about the
newborn, the innocent baby who needs to have a start in life. In this
instance, this legislation will both treat the mother and provide
assistance--residential and nonresidential care--so that these
individuals can have the starts in life that they need.
Let us be reminded of the fact that this addiction of these drugs
becomes
[[Page H2266]]
an illness. We have seen overdoses that cause the loss of life. Let us
be part of stemming the tide, but, more importantly, let us help those
who are trying to hang onto life and to start a new life. This
legislation does that, and I ask my colleagues to support it.
Again, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his leadership, and I
thank him for yielding to me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3691, the ``Improving
Treatment for Pregnant & Postpartum Women Act of 2015,'' that was
approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee.
In the past decade and a half, the growth in the number of physicians
prescribing opioids to help patients deal with pain from surgeries,
dental work and chronic conditions has resulted in an increasing number
of patients becoming dependent on the powerful and highly addictive
painkillers--with patients not only abusing the use of those
painkillers but often turning to heroin once their opioid prescription
ended.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly
259 million opioid prescriptions were written in 2012, more than enough
for every adult in the United States.
It is estimated that in 2013 nearly 4.5 million people in the United
States without a valid medical need were using prescription
painkillers.
The Health and Human Services Department estimates that the number of
unintentional overdose deaths from prescription painkillers almost
quadrupled between 1999 and 2013.
Abuse of prescription opioids now kills nearly 30,000 Americans each
year.
Both states and the federal government have begun responding to this
growing public health crisis, with many states moving to make anti-
overdose drugs more available and shield first-responders from
liability in administering those drugs.
President Obama, meanwhile, has updated prescribing guidelines to
encourage doctors to be more cautious when prescribing opioid
painkillers and to emphasize non-opioid therapies for certain
conditions.
Additionally, the Obama administration has awarded $94 million to
community health centers to improve and expand the delivery of
substance abuse services.
In the president's FY 2017 budget the administration proposed $1.1
billion to combat drug addiction, considering modifying certain rules
to improve treatment.
As misuse of opioids has increased over the past decade, so has the
incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome, referring to the medical
effects on newborn infants suffering from drug withdrawal because their
mothers were drug addicts.
A 2015 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that a
lack of available treatment programs for pregnant women and newborns
with neonatal abstinence syndrome, including the availability of
comprehensive care and enabling services such as transportation and
child care, has hampered federal efforts to address the issue.
This bill reauthorizes residential treatment grant programs for
pregnant and postpartum women who have substance abuse problems that
are administered by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department's
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, increasing the authorized funding
level by 6%.
Seeking to right the same wrongs as H.R. 4843, the ``Improving Safe
Care for the Prevention of Infant Abuse and Neglect Act,'' I introduced
the, ``Stop Infant Mortality and Recidivism Reduction Act of 2016,'' or
the ``SIMARRA Act,'' which will help the Federal Bureau of Prisons to
improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal prison system
for pregnant offenders, by establishing a pilot program of critical-
stage, developmental nurseries in Federal prisons for children born to
inmates.
It is time that our nation recognizes a long-persistent need to break
the cycle of generational, institutional incarceration amongst mothers
serving time for non-violent crimes and the children they birth behind
prison bars.
H.R. 5130, the, ``SIMARRA Act of 2016,'' gives those infants born to
incarcerated mothers a chance to succeed in life.
``SIMARRA'' is not merely yet another second chance program,
demanding leniency from the criminal justice system.
Instead, H.R. 5130 asks our national criminal justice system what it
can do for those young Americans born and relegated to a life of nearly
impossible odds of survival.
``SIMARRA'' provides that first chance--a first chance for American
infants--that many of their mothers, born themselves to mothers behind
bars, never received.
The ``Improving Treatment for Pregnant & Postpartum Women Act of
2015,'' also establishes a pilot program to provide grants to state
substance abuse agencies to promote innovative service delivery models
for pregnant women who have a substance use disorder, such as opioid
addiction, including for family-based services in nonresidential
settings.
Of the amounts appropriated for the HHS residential treatment
program, up to 25% would be available to carry out the pilot program.
No funds would be made available to carry out the pilot program for a
fiscal year, however, unless the amount made available to carry out the
residential treatment program for the fiscal year is more than the
comparable amount made available for FY 2016.
The Senate on March 10, 2016, passed by a 94-1 vote, S 524, an
antiopioid abuse bill that would authorize grants for opioid treatment
services and first-responder training in using anti-overdose drugs, as
well as create a task force to review and update best practices for
prescribing pain medication.
The measure offsets the increased authorization through a $5 million
reduction in the existing FY 2017 authorization for Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) public health capability enhancement activities.
Under current law, $138.3 million is authorized for those activities
each year through FY 2018.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has not yet released a cost
estimate for the bill.
H.R. 3691 would also mandate investigations into heroin distribution
and unlawful distribution of prescription opioids, and require the
creation of a national drug awareness campaign that takes into account
the association between prescription opioid abuse and heroin use.
This week we are scheduled to consider a series of more than a dozen
bills that address the opioid abuse problem facing America.
This measure reauthorizes grants from HHS's Center for Substance
Abuse Treatment to public and nonprofit private entities that provide
residential substance abuse treatment for pregnant and postpartum
women, authorizing $16.9 million each year through FY 2021--$1 million
(6%) more than the current $15.9 million authorization.
Under the pilot grant program, proposed services for eligible
pregnant and postpartum women would not have to be provided solely to
women who reside in facilities.
However, the center must specify a minimum set of services, including
substance abuse counseling, and it must solicit stakeholder input.
The bill directs HHS's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and
Quality to fund an evaluation of the pilot program at the conclusion of
the first grant cycle.
Under the program, grant recipients are required to provide an
individualized plan of services for each participating woman that
includes substance abuse counseling and certain supplemental services,
such as pediatric health care for the woman's children.
The measure directs the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to carry
out a five-year pilot grant program to help state substance abuse
agencies address identified gaps in the services that are furnished to
pregnant and postpartum women with substance abuse issues, and
encourage new approaches and models of service delivery.
H.R. 3691, the ``Improving Treatment for Pregnant & Postpartum Women
Act of 2015,'' is a valuable piece of legislation that I encourage my
colleagues to support.
Additionally, I urge my colleagues to join me in sponsoring and
supporting all legislation targeting the improvement of care for the
prevention of infant abuse and neglect, such as H.R. 5130, the, ``Stop
Infant Mortality and Recidivism Reduction Act of 2016'' or the
``SIMARRA Act.''
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote
for H.R. 3691.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jody B. Hice of Georgia). The question
is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie)
that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3691, as
amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________